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About Joseph

Joseph's practice focuses on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. He advises public and private companies, investment dealers, venture capital and private equity funds and acts as independent counsel to boards of directors. Joseph has extensive experience advising on all types of merger and acquisition and corporate finance transactions including public and private equity and debt financings, take-over and issuer bids, share and asset acquisitions and divestitures, and regulatory and stock exchange compliance work.

Prior to his career in law, Joseph worked in corporate finance with a national investment bank and in clinical research with a multinational pharmaceutical company.

Joseph provides legal services through Joseph Garcia Law Corporation.

Select Experience

Recent representative transactions include advising:

  • Eupraxia in connection with its MJDS direct listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market

  • NervGen in connection with its C$23-million public offering of units

  • Eupraxia in connection with its C$33.9-million public offering of common shares

  • enGene in connection with its US$200-million private placement of common shares

  • Xenon Pharmaceuticals in connection with its US$345-million public offering of common shares

  • enGene in connection with its US$138-million de-SPAC merger with Forbion European Acquisition

  • Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals in connection with its C$22.3-million private placement of common shares

  • Abdera in connection with its US$110-million Series B financing

  • Neovasc in connection with its acquisition by Shockwave for approximately US$100-million

  • Alpha-9 Theranostics in connection with its US$75-million Series B financing

  • Zymeworks in connection with its plan of arrangement transaction to become a Delaware corporation

  • The underwriters in connection with the US$20-million public offering of units by Medicenna Therapeutics

  • NervGen Pharma in connection with its US$15.23-million private placement of units

  • Xenon Pharmaceuticals in connection with its US$287.5-million public offering of common shares

  • Incisive Genetics in connection with its C$12-million seed financing

  • Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals in connection with its C$14.7-million overnight marketed public offering of units

  • Zymeworks in connection with its US$115-million public offering of common shares

  • Trillium Therapeutics in connection with its acquisition by Pfizer for US$2.22-billion

  • Ouest Business Solutions in connection with its acquisition by Deloitte

  • Xenon Pharma in connection with its US$345-million public offering of common shares

  • Boreal Genomics in connection with its acquisition by Natera

  • iCo Therapeutics in connection with its reverse take-over transaction by Satellos Bioscience

  • Complex Biotech Discovery Ventures in connection with its acquisition by Delic Labs

  • Terry Fox Research Institute in connection with the establishment of the Digital Health and Discovery Platform

  • Alpha-9 Theranostics in connection with its US$11-million Series A financing

  • NewGen Therapeutics in connection with its TSXV qualifying transaction with Rakovina Therapeutics

  • Vivifi Biotech, an affiliate of Parkinson's UK, in connection with its acquisition of certain assets of MedGenesis Therapeutics

  • Tevosol in connection with its acquisition by Bridge to Life

  • Essa Pharma in connection with its US$150-million public offering of common shares

  • Eupraxia in connection with its C$41-million initial public offering of common shares and warrants on the Toronto Stock Exchange

  • Xenon Pharmaceuticals in connection with its US$115-million public offering of common shares

  • Neovasc in connection with its US$72-million MJDS registered direct offering of common shares

  • Notch Therapeutics in connection with its US$85-million Series A financing

  • adMare BioInnovations in connection with the C$20-million launch of FORUS Therapeutics

  • adMare BioInnovations in connection with the C$8-million seed financing of Abdera Therapeutics

  • A syndicate of agents in connection with the C$24.2-million private placement of subscription receipts issued by Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery

  • AbCellera Biologics in connection with its US$555.5-million initial public offering of common shares on NASDAQ

  • The underwriters in connection with the up to US$25-million at-the-market offerings of common shares by Medicenna Therapeutics

  • Novoheart in connection with its going private transaction

  • Neovasc in connection with its US$6.1-million MJDS registered direct offering of common shares

  • NervGen in connection with its C$6.45-million public offering of units

  • Neovasc in connection with its US$12.6-million MJDS registered direct offering of common shares

  • ESSA Pharma in connection with its US$49-million public offering of common shares

  • Neoleukin Therapeutics in connection with the sale of its subsidiary, Aquinox Pharma, to Taro Pharmaceutical

  • Neovasc in connection with its US$11.5-million MJDS registered direct offering of units

  • Correvio Pharma in connection with its acquisition by ADVANZ Pharma for US$76-million

  • Essa Pharma in connection with its up to US$35-million at-the-market common share offering

  • Xenon Pharmaceuticals in connection with its US$69-million public offering of common shares

  • Zymeworks in connection with its US$320.8-million public offering of common shares and pre-funded warrants

  • adMare BioInnovations in connection with its business combination with Accel-Rx

  • Neovasc in connection with its US$10-million MJDS registered direct offering of units

  • Zymeworks in connection with its US$75-million at-the-market common share offering

  • Xenon Pharmaceuticals in connection with its US$50-million at-the-market common share offering

  • ESSA in connection with its US$36-million public offering of common shares and pre-funded warrants

  • Zymeworks in connection with its US$201.3-million cross border prospectus offering of common shares

  • Centre for Drug Research and Development in connection with its business combination with NEOMED Institute to create adMare BioInnovations

  • Novoheart in connection with its acquisition of Xellera Therapeutics

  • ESSA Pharma in connection with its acquisition of Realm Therapeutics

  • The underwriters in connection with the US$350-million private placement of 5.25% convertible senior notes due 2024 by Aphria

  • Jones Brown in connection with its sale to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

  • Helius Medical in connection with its US$20.1-million MJDS prospectus offering of common shares

  • Jam City in connection with the acquisition of Bingo Pop from Uken Games

  • Xenon Pharmaceuticals in connection with its US$63-million prospectus offering of common shares

  • Zymeworks in connection with its US$97.8-million MJDS prospectus offering of common shares

  • Anandia Laboratories in connection with its acquisition by Aurora Cannabis for C$115-million in common shares

  • Cardiome Pharma in connection with the acquisition of its Canadian business portfolio by Cipher Pharmaceuticals for C$25.5-million pursuant to a statutory plan of arrangement

  • Helius Medical in connection with its US$14.1-million prospectus offering of common shares and warrants and its concurrent listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market

  • Seaspan in connection with its US$500-million private placements of 5.50% debentures and warrants to Fairfax Financial Holdings

  • ESSA in connection with its US$26-million prospectus offering and concurrent private placement of common shares and pre-funded warrants

  • Neovasc in connection with its US$37.5-million underwritten offering of Series A and Series B units (comprised of a combination of common shares or Series D pre-funded warrants, Series C units and Series A, B, C and F warrants to purchase common shares) and concurrent US$27.8-million private placement of notes and Series E warrants to purchase common shares

  • The underwriters in connection with the C$11.5-million prospectus offering of units by Oncolytics Biotech

  • Zymeworks in connection with its US$64-million initial public offering of common shares and listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange

  • Helius Medical in connection with its C$12.5-million MJDS prospectus offering of common shares

  • Trilogy International in connection with its US$875-million business combination with Alignvest Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition corporation (SPAC)

  • Volkswagen Financial Services AG in connection with its acquisition of PayByPhone

  • Neovasc in connection with the sale of its tissue business and concurrent private placement to Boston Scientific for US$75-million

  • Weyerhaeuser in connection with the sale of its Cellulose Fibers pulp mill in Alberta to International Paper

  • Response Biomedical in connection with its going-private transaction

  • ESSA in connection with its US$10-million term loan from Silicon Valley Bank

  • The underwriters in connection with the US$25.9-million prospectus offering of common shares by Xenon Pharmaceuticals and the concurrent US$8.6-million secondary offering

  • 3D Signatures in connection with the closing of its qualifying transaction on the TSX Venture Exchange and concurrent C$5.45-million private placement of common shares

  • The underwriters in connection with the exchange offer of DFC Finance's US$800-million outstanding principal amount of 10.5% senior secured notes due in 2020

  • Opko Health in connection with its acquisition of Transition Therapeutics for US$60-million in common shares

  • Cardiome Pharma in connection with its US$34.5-million MJDS prospectus offering of common shares

  • SciVac in connection with its acquisition of VBI Vaccines for US$92.1-million in shares

  • Helius Medical in connection with its C$10.2-million prospectus offering and its listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange

  • Private company in connection with its US$25-million Series C preferred share financing

  • ESSA Pharma in connection with its US$15-million private placement of units

  • Zymeworks in connection with its US$61.5-million mezzanine preferred share financing

  • Zymeworks in connection with its equity investment and optional merger agreement with Kairos Therapeutics

  • Cardiome Pharma in connection with its up to US$20-million prospectus offering

  • CPI Card Group in connection with its US$150-million initial public offering of common shares, concurrent US$22.5-million secondary offering, and listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ Global Select Market

  • Cardiome Pharma in connection with its US$23-million prospectus offering of common shares

  • VRG Capital in connection with its backing of a management buy-out of Jones Brown, and the subsequent acquisition of Pearson Dunn Insurance

  • UrtheCast in connection with the C$100-million acquisition of the Earth Observation business of Elecnor and its concurrent prospectus offering of C$100-million of subscription receipts

  • SciVac in connection with its reverse take-over transaction of Levon Resources with an aggregate transaction value of C$356-million and its listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange

  • The underwriters in connection with the US$55.2-million prospectus offering of common shares by Trillium Therapeutics

  • Urthecast in connection with its C$17.25-million prospectus offering of common shares

  • Neovasc in connection with its US$74.9-million MJDS prospectus offering of common shares and the concurrent US$11.9-million secondary prospectus offering

  • Zymeworks in connection with its C$27-million private placement and the expansion of its strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company

  • The underwriters in connection with the US$41.4-million initial public offering of common shares by Xenon Pharmaceuticals and its listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market

  • Neovasc in connection with its C$25-million prospectus offering of common shares

  • The underwriters in connection with the US$60-million prospectus offering of common shares by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals

  • The underwriters in connection with the US$53-million initial public offering of common shares by Aquinox Pharmaceuticals and its listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market

  • Cardiome Pharma in connection with its C$15-million prospectus offering of common shares and the concurrent C$15-million secondary prospectus offering

  • Cardiome Pharma in connection with its C$30-million at-the-market prospectus offering of common shares

  • The agent in connection with the US$52-million private placement of units of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals

  • Aequus Pharmaceuticals in connection with its private placement, prospectus filing and direct listing on the TSX Venture Exchange

  • ESSA Pharma in connection with its private placement, prospectus filing and direct listing on the TSX Venture Exchange

  • iCo Therapeutics in connection with its C$6.75-million prospectus offering of common shares

  • UrtheCast in connection with its C$10-million prospectus offering of common shares

  • Cardiome Pharma in connection with its cross-border acquisition of Correvio

  • Response Biomedical in connection with its private placement of subscription receipts

  • GenomeDx Biosciences in connection with its Series B preferred share financing

  • Boreal Genomics in connection with its Series C preferred share financing

  • UrtheCast in connection with its reverse takeover transaction of Longford Energy, concurrent financing and listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange

  • enGene in connection with its Series A preferred share financing

  • Aspreva Pharmaceuticals in connection with its acquisition by Galenica for US$950-million

  • ID Biomedical in connection with its acquisition by GlaxoSmithKline for C$1.7-billion

Awards & Recognition

Joseph has received the following awards:

  • Milton Wong Community Leadership Award – Life Sciences BC Awards 2024

  • Canadian Financial & Transactional Attorney of the Year – LMG Life Sciences Awards 2018

  • Visionary Leadership – BIOTECanada Gold Leaf Awards 2015

  • Partner/Advisor of the Year – LifeSciences BC Awards 2015

  • Canadian Financial & Transactional Attorney of the Year – LMG Life Sciences Awards 2015

Joseph is also featured as a leading lawyer in numerous publications including:

  • The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 (Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Corporate Governance Practice, Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities Law)

  • Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences 2024

  • Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2024

  • Who's Who Legal: Global 2024 (Life Sciences – Transactional)

  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2024 (Life Sciences & Health, Corporate Finance & Securities, Corporate Commercial Law, Technology Transactions, Private Equity, Corporate Mid-Market)

  • Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business 2024 (Life Sciences: Corporate/Commercial – Nationwide – Canada)

  • IFLR1000: The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms 2023 (Capital Markets: Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions)

  • Who's Who Legal: Canada 2023 (Life Sciences)

  • Best Lawyers: "Lawyer of the Year" 2022 (Biotechnology, Vancouver)

  • LMG Life Sciences: The Definitive Guide to the Leading Life Sciences Firms and Attorneys in North America 2022 (Star Attorney in Canada)

  • The 2017 Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada (Corporate Finance and Securities)

Professional Activities

Joseph has lectured extensively on corporate governance and advanced securities law topics. He has chaired The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia Corporate Governance courses in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2022, and participated in the advanced securities law courses from 2007–2009, 2011 and from 2013–2015.

Joseph is a director of Science World and director emeritus of LifeSciences BC. He is a former director of the Canadian Glycomics Network and Genome BC. He is a member of the BIOTECanada Legal Affairs Advisory Board and the Canadian Bar Association.

Education

Admitted to the British Columbia Bar – 1997
LLB, University of British Columbia – 1996
BA (Economics (Health Care)), McMaster University – 1993
BSc (Hon., Pharmacology and Human Biology), University of Toronto – 1990

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